Process for preparing diketone compounds and precursors thereto

ABSTRACT

A process for preparing compounds of the formula:                    
     wherein R 2  is lower alkyl; or phenyl optionally substituted by from one to five groups, the same or different, which are lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, halogen or —SR 4 ; R 3  is halogen, lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkoxy, —S-alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the ring, alkenyl or alkynyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or —(CR 5 R 6 )—SR 2  wherein q is one or two; R 4  is lower alkyl; R 5  and R 6  independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower haloalkyl; and n is zero or an integer from one to three; intermediate compounds of the formula:                    
     and processes for preparing them.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/990,282, filed Nov. 23, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,225, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/811,487, filed Mar. 20, 2001, now abandoned, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/117,372, filed Oct. 28, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,942, issued May 22, 2001, which is the U.S. national stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP97/00370, filed Jan. 28, 1997 and designating the United States, and published by the International Bureau on Aug. 7, 1997 as WO 97/28122. The disclosures of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09/990,282, 09/811,487 and 09/117,372 are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties and relied upon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a process for preparing ketone compounds and the products obtained by this process. More particularly, the invention relates to the preparation of intermediate compounds in the manufacture of pesticides.

Pesticidal 4-benzoylisoxazoles, particularly 5-cyclopropylisoxazole herbicides and intermediate compounds in their synthesis, are described in the literature, for example in European Patent Publication Nos. 0418175, 0487357, 0527036, 0560482, 0609798 and 0682659.

Various methods for preparing these compounds are known. It is an object of the present invention to provide improved methods for the preparation of these compounds and the intermediate compounds thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) by the reaction of a compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (III), according to the reaction scheme Sc1 indicated below:

wherein:

R₁ is lower alkyl;

R₂ is lower alkyl; or phenyl optionally substituted by from one to five groups which may be the same or different selected from lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, halogen and —SR₄;

R₃ is halogen, lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkoxy, —S-alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 7 ring carbon atoms, alkenyl or alkynyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or —(CR₅R₆)_(q)—SR₂ wherein q is one or two;

n is zero or an integer from one to three;

R₄ is lower alkyl;

and R₅ and R₆ independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower haloalkyl.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (II) by the reaction of a compound of formula (V) with a mercaptan of formula (IV), optionally present in the form of the thiolate, according to reaction scheme Sc2 indicated below:

wherein R₂, R₃ and n in formulae (II) and (V) have the same meanings as given before in reaction scheme Sc1. The group —NO₂ is generally present in the 2- or 4-position, preferably the 2-position of the phenyl ring.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (V) by the reaction of a compound of formula (VII) or (VI), as well as a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (VI) from a compound of formula (VII), according to the reaction scheme Sc3 indicated below:

wherein R₃ and n have the same meanings as in reaction schemes Sc2 and Sc1, and X represents halogen, preferably chlorine or fluorine. Preferably, the group —NO₂ in formula (VII) is in the 2- or 4-position, most preferably in the 2-position of the phenyl ring.

Certain intermediate compounds of formula (II) are novel and as such constitute a further feature of the present invention, in particular 2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylacetophenone and 3,4-dichloro-2-(methylthio)acetophenone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compounds of formula (I) and a number of processes for their preparation have been described in the European Patent Applications cited above.

By the term “lower” is meant radicals comprising at least one hydrocarbon chain, it being understood that such radicals contain from one to six carbon atoms linked together in a straight- or branched-carbon chain.

Preferably, R₁ and R₂ are lower alkyl (most preferably, methyl).

Preferably, the group —SR₂ occupies the 2-, 3- or 4-position of the phenyl ring (most preferably, the 2-position).

Preferably, n is one or two.

The reaction generally proceeds in better yield when a group R₃ is not halogen in the 2-position of the phenyl ring.

Preferably, R₃ is halogen or trifluoromethyl. More preferably, (R₃)_(n) is 4-CF₃ or 3,4-dichloro.

The compounds of formula (III) above used in Scheme Sc1 are known in the literature and their preparation has been expressly described in the prior art known to the skilled worker. Some references particularly pertinent to the preparation of this reagent may be found by the skilled worker in various sources of chemical literature, including Chemical Abstracts and information databases available to the public.

The preparation of compounds of formula (I) using compounds of formula (II) and (III) according to scheme Sc1 above may be preferably effected in a polar or apolar aprotic solvent. Examples of polar aproptic solvents include dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, a compound of formula (III); an ether compound, particularly dioxane and tetrahydrofuran; or an aromatic or aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbon, particularly chlorobenzenes. Examples of apolar aprotic solvents include aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, particularly toluene and xylenes.

Generally, the reaction temperature used in Sc1 above is from 0° C. to the boiling point of the solvent, preferably, between 0° C. and 100° C. Generally the Sc1 reaction takes place in the presence of a strong base, which is most preferably selected from an alkoxide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, notably sodium ethoxide, sodium methoxide, sodium or potassium t-butoxide; and a metal hydride (notably sodium hydride).

According to a preferred variant of the process of Sc1 of the present invention, the reaction is performed with continuous distillation of the alcohol R₁—OH formed in the course of the reaction, at atmospheric pressure or under reduced pressure (preferably from 1 to 20% below atmospheric pressure). Optionally, the alcohol R₁—OH formed may be removed by the use of a suitable molecular sieve, for example a 4 Angstrom molecular sieve.

Compounds of formula HSR₂ used in reaction scheme Sc2 are known in the literature and their preparations are expressly described in the prior art known to the skilled worker. The references particularly pertinent to the preparation of this reagent may be found by the skilled worker in various sources of classical chemistry including Chemical Abstracts and information databases available to the public. The salts or thiolates derived from the compound of formula (IV) may be prepared by means known to the skilled worker. These thiolates are preferably alkaline salts, particularly sodium or potassium thiolate.

The preparation of compounds of formula (II) according to scheme Sc2 from the acetophenone of formula (V) and a compound of formula (IV) is preferably performed in a solvent of the compound of formula (IV) which may be inert to the reaction conditions. Examples of other suitable solvents include sulfoxides such as dimethylsulfoxide; amides such as dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methylpyrrolidone; ketones such as acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone; ether solvents, particularly dioxane and tetrahydrofuran; aromatic, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons and halogenated or non-halogenated hydrocarbons, particularly chlorobenzene, dichloromethane and toluene. The presence of a small quantity of water is also acceptable in allowing the solubilization of the thiolate.

When the reaction according to scheme Sc2 takes place using a compound of formula (IV) in the form of the mercaptan and not in the form of a thiolate salt, the reaction is preferably effected in the presence of a base such as a hydroxide of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal (preferably, sodium or potassium), or a carbonate or hydride (such as sodium hydride). The reaction may also be performed using various forms of catalyst, particularly phase transfer catalysts such as a quaternary ammonium salt, for example, tetrabutylammonium bromide.

The two reactions which comprise together the reaction scheme Sc3 above are generally distinct but preferably they may occur in succession. That is, the compounds of formula (V) may be prepared from the compounds of formula (VII) via an intermediate of formula (VI) which may be isolated or used in situ in the course of the reaction.

The reaction conditions for the preparation of the compound of formula (V) from the compound of formula (VI) are known in the art and described in the literature, notably by J. G. Reid and J. M. Reny Runge in Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 31(1990), pp. 1093-1096; G. A. Olah et al. Synthesis (1980), pp. 662-663; N. Kornblum et al, J. Org. Chem., Vol. 47 (1982), pp. 4534-38; S. Chandrasekaran et al, Synthetic Communications, Vol. 17 (1987), pp. 195-201.

The invention is thus also concerned with the preparation of compounds of formula (VI) from compounds of formula (VII) by the reaction of nitroethane in the presence of a base in a solvent which is selected from a compound of formula (VII), nitroethane, a solvent inert to the reaction conditions, and the base being selected from an hydroxide, a carbonate, a hydride, an alkoxide of an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal, and guanidine. An advantage of this aspect of the present invention is that relatively simple bases may be used in the reaction scheme Sc3.

Solvents suitable for use in preparing compounds (VI) from compounds (VII) include nitroethane itself (used in excess compared to the quantity normally used as a reactant); aromatic or aliphatic halogenated or non-halogenated hydrocarbons, particularly chlorobenzene; aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, particularly toluene and xylenes; polar aproptic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone; acetonitrile; ether solvents, particularly dioxane and tetrahydrofuran. The presence of a small quantity of water is also acceptable in allowing the solubilization of the reaction mixture, while not reacting with the reactants themselves.

The reaction temperature for converting (VII) to (VI) is generally from 0° C. to 50° C. The reaction may also be carried out in an aqueous or non-aqueous medium. Among the bases suitable for the use in this process, one may cite hydroxides or carbonates of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, preferably sodium or potassium, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate or cesium carbonate; or tetramethylguanidine. These bases may be used alone or in mixture with others. The reaction may also be conveniently performed using various types of catalyst, particularly phase transfer catalysts such as a quaternary ammonium salt, for example, tetrabutylammonium bromide.

The following non-limiting examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of 1-cyclopropyl-3-(2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione (Reaction Scheme Sc1)

In a reaction vessel under an inert atmosphere, one adds 1.15 g of sodium methoxide and 22 ml of toluene. This is heated to 80° C. at a pressure of 400 mbars. A mixture of 3.3 ml of methyl cyclopropylcarboxylate and 3.8 g of 2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylacetophenone in 6 ml of anhydrous toluene is added over 3 hours with constant distillation of methanol formed. The reaction is stirred for one hour at 80° C. The reaction is then cooled and the diketone precipitated in a mixture of 80 ml of ice water containing 0.75 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid. The organic phase is retained, washed with water and the toluene removed under reduced pressure to give 3.67 g of 1-cyclopropyl-3-(2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione in the form of an orange powder, m.p. 64° C. Yield=75%.

By proceeding in a similar manner, but heating at a temperature of 70° C. and a pressure of 230 mbars, 3-(4-chloro-2-methylthiophenyl)-1-cyclopropylpropan-1,3-dione was prepared in 98% yield (purity greater than 80%). This compound was also similarly prepared wherein the reaction took place at a temperature of 70° for 6.5 hours and in the presence of 4 Angstrom molecular sieves in place of constant distillation of the methanol formed.

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of 1-cyclopropyl-3-[3,4-dichloro-2-(methylthio)phenyl]propane-1,3-dione (Reaction Scheme Sc1)

Sodium hydride (0.178 g, 60% oil dispersion, 0.0045 M) is suspended in tetrahydrofuran (1.8 ml), stirred and heated at reflux while a solution of a mixture of methyl cyclopropanecarboxylate (0.42 g, 0.0042M) and 3,4-dichloro-2-(methylthio)acetophenone (0.5 g, 0.0021M) in tetrahydrofuran (3 ml) is added. The mixture is stirred and heated at reflux for 3.5 hours, then cooled and poured onto saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The mixture is then extracted with ether, washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to give a gum (which is purified by dry column flash chromatography eluted with ethyl acetate in cyclohexane to give 3-cyclopropyl-1-[3,4-dichloro-2-(methylthio)phenyl]propane-1,3-dione (0.35 g, 55%) as a yellow oil.

EXAMPLE 3

Preparation of 2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylacetophenone (Reaction Scheme Sc2)

To 0.15 g of 2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylacetophenone diluted in 0.5 ml of acetone is added 0.256 g of an aqueous solution of 21% wt/wt sodium thiomethoxide and the mixture is stirred for five hours at 20° C. The aqueous phase is separated, then removed, then 2 ml of water are added and the acetone removed under reduced pressure. The mixture is then treated with dichloromethane and the aqueous phase removed. The organic phase is washed with fresh water, then the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain 0.085 g of 2-methylthio-4-trifluoromethylacetophenone with a melting point of 71° C.

By proceeding in a similar manner, 3,4-dichloro-2-(methylthio)acetophenone may be prepared, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 2.4 (s,3H), 2.6 (s,3H), 7.15 (d,1H), 7.5 (d,1H).

EXAMPLE 4

Preparation of 1-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-nitroethane (Reaction Scheme Sc3)

0.87 g of sodium carbonate in 5 ml of anhydrous toluene are placed in a 30 ml reaction vessel, and 0.11 g of benzyltriethylammonium chloride and 1.13 g of 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzotrifluoride and 0.38 g of nitroethane are added at the same time. The mixture is stirred for 16 hours at 20° C., 10 ml of water are added and the aqueous phase is separated, then acidified by a 4N solution of sulfuric acid. It is then extracted with 5 ml of methyl t-butyl ether. After removing the organic solvent, 0.18 g of a mixture is obtained which is separated by column chromatography using reverse phase silica eluting with a mixture of water and acetonitrile to obtain 0.12 g of the title compound, m.p. 48° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (VI):

wherein: R₃ is halogen, lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkoxy, —S-alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the ring, alkenyl or alkynyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or —(CR₅R₆)_(q)—SR₂ wherein q is one or two; R₂ is lower alkyl; or phenyl which is unsubstituted or is substituted by from one to five groups which are same or different selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, halogen and —SR₄; R₄ is lower alkyl; R₅ and R₆ independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower haloalkyl; and n is zero or an integer from one to three; which comprises reacting a compound of the formula (VII):

in which R₃ and n are as defined above and X is halogen, with nitroethane, wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide, a carbonate, a hydride, an alkoxide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and guanidine; in the presence of a solvent selected from the group consisting of nitroethane and an inert solvent; and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature is from 0° C. to 50° C.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the phase transfer catalyst is a quaternary ammonium salt.
 4. A process according to claim 2, wherein the phase transfer catalyst is a quaternary ammonium salt.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein X is chlorine or fluorine.
 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho or para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho or para, respectively, to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 7. A process according to claim 6, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the —CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein R₃ is halogen.
 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein R₃ is trifluoromethyl.
 10. A process according to claim 1, wherein n is one or two.
 11. A process according to claim 1, wherein R₃ is halogen or trifluoromethyl and n is one or two.
 12. A process according to claim 1, wherein (R₃)_(n) is a single trifluoromethyl substituent positioned para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI); or (R3)_(n) represents two chloro substituents positioned meta and para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and meta and para, respectively, to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 13. A process according to claim 11, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 14. A process according to claim 12, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 15. A process according to claim 13, wherein X is chlorine.
 16. A process according to claim 14, wherein X is chlorine.
 17. The process according to claim 1, wherein X is chlorine, (R₃)_(n) is a single trifluoromethyl substituent positioned para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI) and the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the base is sodium carbonate and the solvent is anhydrous toluene and wherein said process is conducted in the presence of benzyltriethyl ammonium chloride.
 19. A compound of the formula (VI):

wherein: R₃ is lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkoxy, —S-alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the ring, alkenyl or alkynyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or —(CR₅R₆)_(q)—SR₂ wherein q is one or two; R₂ is lower alkyl; or phenyl which is unsubstituted or is substituted by from one to five groups which are the same or different selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, halogen and —SR₄; R₄ is lower alkyl; R₅ and R₆ independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower haloalkyl; and n is an integer from one to three.
 20. A compound according to claim 19, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho or para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 21. A compound according to claim 19, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 22. A compound according to claim 19, wherein R₃ is trifluoromethyl.
 23. A compound according to claim 19, wherein n is one or two.
 24. A compound according to claim 19, wherein R₃ is trifluoromethyl and n is one or two.
 25. A compound according to claim 19, wherein (R₃)_(n) is a single trifluoromethyl substituent positioned para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 26. A compound according to claim 24, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 27. A compound according to claim 25, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 28. The compound 1-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-nitroethane.
 29. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (VI):

wherein: R₃ is trifluoromethyl; and n is an integer from one to three; which comprises reacting a compound of the formula (VII):

in which R₃ and n are as defined above and X is halogen, with nitroethane, wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide, a carbonate, a hydride, an alkoxide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and guanidine; in the presence of a solvent selected from the group consisting of nitroethane and an inert solvent.
 30. A process according to claim 29, wherein X is chlorine or fluorine.
 31. A process according to claim 29, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho or para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho or para, respectively, to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 32. A process according to claim 31, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 33. A process according to claim 29, wherein n is one or two.
 34. A process according to claim 29, wherein (R₃)_(n) is a single trifluoromethyl substituent positioned para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 35. A process according to claim 34, wherein the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the —CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 36. A process according to claim 35, wherein X is chlorine.
 37. The process according to claim 29, wherein X is chlorine, (R₃)_(n) is a single trifluoromethyl substituent positioned para to the X substituent in formula (VII) and para to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI) and the —NO₂ group is positioned ortho to the X substituent in formula (VII) and ortho to the CH(NO₂)CH₃ substituent in formula (VI).
 38. The process according to claim 37, wherein the base is sodium carbonate and the solvent is anhydrous toluene and wherein said process is conducted in the presence of benzyltriethyl ammonium chloride. 